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Galilee and the Jordan River Valley

So, we left the Jerusalem hustle and bustle and headed north towards Galilee. Very quickly outside of the city, we met with the desert once again, and began passing through the Jordan River valley. We passed a checkpoint and said “Boker Tov” to nice friendly army soldier with friendly smiles and big guns. We drove by the Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) as we passed into the region. It is Israel’s single largest reservoir, and it is shrinking at an alarming rate. From living in Austin through the drought and watching the lake levels drop through the years, and just seeing the levels come up this last year, I know a place to pray for rain. Just saying. We touched on Teverya (Tiberius), where we would come back and stay, and went through Migdol, or Magdela. I remember a story or two that may have come from that area, do you?

We visited a place near the Kinneret where and ancient boat from 2000 years ago (more pictures to come, and here’s the link from Joined to HaShem with other pictures), then went a sailing on the sea, around and on which about 90% of the events of the gospels took place. The owner was a Jew who, after taking many people, Christian groups, out on his boat and hearing the message over and over, gave his life to Yeshua, and has been praising and worshipping Him in song ever since. He sang a couple of songs for us, and then he played a recording that Hillsong United did on his boat of Oceans (Where Feet May Fail). As soon as I can, I will upload it; it’s imperfect, with talking in the background, but I will tell you something: that song has always had an impact on me, the story of Peter has always had an impact on me, and listening to that song, sailing over that sea, seeing that story in my mind, and being where I am in life… there are not enough words in any language that I speak to describe the overwhelming sense that I had. I would say that was a defining moment, but I couldn’t define it for you. I kind of was there for the rest of the day. Here is their recording of that moment; again, I will post mine when I can.

The rest of the day to me was a view of beauty and history. We passed the probable places where the miracle of the loaves and fishes happened, and also the mount of the Beatitudes. We went to the temple where Yeshua probably taught. There was a “new temple” (in ruins) there, but underneath, you could see the darker volcanic stones that were from that time period where the original stood. Can you sense how awe inspired I am? As we saw the nature preserve and natural park and a view of The Galil, and heard a description of how lush and green it would be after the rainy season really began, it seemed a very touching and fitting end to our full day. And yet there is still more to come!! And there was evening, and there was morning, day 6!